University Energy Optimization Study

POWER created a computer-based mathematical model of the steam, chilled water, and electric power supply systems for the main campus power and west campus chiller plants. Texas A&M University retained POWER to perform an energy study of the main campus power plant and the original west campus chiller plants. The study included performance testing of the boilers, gas turbine, steam turbine generators, steam absorption chillers, steam turbine and electric motor powered centrifugal chillers, and the major auxiliaries including the water evaporators. Using the study test results, POWER created mathematical models to represent energy production and consumption for each piece of power plant equipment. These models were used to build a computer program that replicated power plant operations. In subsequent years, the computer program was updated to reflect changes in power plant operations. The program was given the capability to automatically optimize the loading of available power plant equipment and power company tie lines to produce the lowest operating cost possible for a given load scenario. The program was again modified to simulate changing low pressure absorbers to high pressure absorbers. Texas A&M retained POWER once again to convert the energy optimizing mathematical model program to a spreadsheet-based system and update the model to incorporate recent changes to the power plant. This was accomplished using POWER’s EndResult® Power Plant Performance Monitoring and Information System software and Microsoft® Excel. The result is an easily maintainable and expandable spreadsheet-based Power Plant Energy Optimization Programs. In the future, the Power Plant Energy Optimization Program can be connected directly to the power plant information system. This will give management and operations immediate and continuous dynamic information about the most efficient power plant equipment loading for the current steam, chilled water, and electric power energy demand.